DURANGO TARAHUMARA SALAMANDER
Ambystoma rosaceum – Taylor 1941
Ambystoma rosaceum nigrum – Shannon 1951
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma rosaceum nigrum is found in the high mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental from central Durango southward to at least eastern Nayarit and adjacent Jalisco and Zacatecas. It may be found as high as 3,100m elevation.
HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
Some authors recognize nigrum as a [...]
BARRED TIGER SALAMANDER
Ambystoma tigrinum – Green 1825
Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium – Baird 1850
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
In Mexico, this subspecies’ range is poorly known and it may be more widespread than currently recognized. Currently it is known to occur in the State of Chihuahua, near the United States border. Introduced populations in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico will expand [...]
MEXICO STREAM SALAMANDER
Ambystoma rivulare – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma rivulare is recorded from several high-elevation localities in the States of Michoacán and México, México. It is also recorded from northern Guerrero from a site between Taxco and Tetipac. The latter locality as well as a record from Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca need verification. Elevational distribution above [...]
MICHOACAN STREAM SALAMANDER
Ambystoma ordinarium – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
High-elevation forests on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt from the vicinity of Pátzcuaro, eastward to the border of Mexico State (Municipio de Tianguistenco). Elevation distribution above 2,200m.
HABITAT:
High-elevation fir, pine and pine-oak forests in the immediate vicinity of streams; this species can utilize streams in pastures and somewhat cleared areas. [...]
MEXICAN AXOLOTL
Ambystoma mexicanum – Shaw & Nodder 1798
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
The Mexican Axolotl is known historically from Lagos Xochimilco, Chalco and probably in the connecting lakes Texcoco and Zumpango. Currently this salamander’s range is greatly reduced, and it can only be found in fragmented areas of the southern end of Lago Xochimilco and its associated canal systems; it [...]
LAGO DE LERMA SALAMANDER
Ambystoma lermaense – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
HABITAT:
This species is known from the wetlands surrounding Lago de Lerma and associated with the RÃo Lerma, south of Ciudad Toluca. It may also inhabit the canal systems within the region, but this is not yet verified.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Very little in known of the habits of this species. [...]
LEORA’S STREAM SALAMANDER
Ambystoma leorae – Taylor 1943
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma leorae is known only from the high mountains in the vicinity of the town of RÃo FrÃo, on the México/Puebla border. The elevational distribution of this species is approximately 3,000m.
HABITAT:
This species inhabits high-elevation, humid pine forests. It is found within or immediately adjacent to streams within forest [...]
GRANULAR SALAMANDER
Ambystoma granulosum – Taylor 1944
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma granulosum is known only from the vicinity of it’s type locality: just northwest of the city of Toluca, Mexico. The elevational range of this species lies around 3,000m.
HABITAT:
The Global Amphibian Assessment refers to this species’ habitat as grassland.
NATURAL HISTORY:
This is a terrestrial species that breeds in [...]
YELLOW-PEPPERED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma flavipiperatum – Dixon 1963
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma flavipiperatum is definately known only from the State of Jalisco, Mexico. It is found at moderate elevations (2,000-2,300m) in the vicinity of Tapalpa, and possibly Mazamitla; it may occur farther north in the Sierra Jolalpa, Sierra Cacoma and Sierra Verde, Jalisco.
HABITAT:
This species is found in meadows and grasslands [...]
LAGO DE PATZCUARO SALAMANDER
Ambystoma dumerilii РDug̬s 1870
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma dumerilii is known only from Lago de Pátzcuaro (Pátzcuaro Lake), at an elevation of 2055′. A record exists for this species from San Juan del RÃo, Queretáro but this surely cannot represent A. dumerilii.
HABITAT:
Ambystoma dumerilii was a member of several trophic zones of the lake it [...]
DELICATE-SKINNED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma bombypellum – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma bombypellum is known only from the vicinity of the type locality near San MartÃn in north-western Mexico State. Elevational range centered at 2,500m.
HABITAT:
This species’ habitat is largely open grasslands and meadows adjacent to pine-oak woodland.
NATURAL HISTORY:
This species lives a largely terrestrial life, but returns to stock ponds, small [...]
ANDERSON’S SALAMANDER
Ambystoma andersoni – Krebs & Brandon 1984
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma andersoni is known only from Lago de Zacapú and its feeder-stream (RÃo Angulo), Michoacán, Mexico at an elevation of 2,000m.
HABITAT:
This species occurs within Lago de Zacapú (Zacapú Lake) and its tributary stream the RÃo Angulo. Salamanders are most frequently observed near the lake’s main springs.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Ambystoma [...]
BLUNT-HEADED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma amblycephalum – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma amblycephalum is only known to occur in the region around TacÃcuaro, west of the city of Morelia, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Its elevational distribution is centered around 2,000m. Records of this species elsewhere in Michoacán and Jalisco states are apparently based on mis-identifed specimens.
HABITAT:
This species occurs [...]
MOUNTAIN STREAM SALAMANDER
Ambystoma altamirani РDug̬s 1895
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma altamirani is known from the mountains to the west and southwest of Mexico City, in the states of Mexico, Morelos and the Distrito Federal. In Morelos it is known from the Lagunas de Zempoala region; In Mexico and the D. F. it is known from the Sierra de [...]
Adult Male, 9,725′, Hidalgo, Mexico
Adult Male, 9,725′, Hidalgo, Mexico
Adult Female, 9,725′, Hidalgo, Mexico
Metamorph (Subadult), 9,725′, Hidalgo, Mexico – Note Lack of Pattern
PLATEAU TIGER SALAMANDER
Ambystoma subsalsum –
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This is the most wide-spread member of the genus Ambystoma in Mexico. It is found from southeastern Chihuahua, and southern Nuevo Leon (possibly also Coahuila) south throughout the Mexican [...]